What are the responsibilities and job description for the Supplier Quality Engineer position at GrowTech Industries, LLC?
Job Title
Supplier Quality Engineer
Location
Phoenix, AZ or Goodyear, Az
Department
Supply Chain / Quality
Employment Type
Full-Time | Exempt
Company Overview
GTI designs, engineers, and manufactures complex modular systems supporting energy storage, power generation, data center infrastructure, defense, and heavy-industrial markets. With advanced fabrication operations in Arizona and New York, GTI depends on high-performing supplier partnerships to meet rigorous standards for quality, reliability, compliance, and delivery performance.
Position Overview
GTI is seeking a Supplier Quality Engineer to support supplier qualification, auditing, performance management, and corrective action initiatives across the supply base. This role works directly with suppliers and internal engineering, quality, and procurement teams to ensure purchased materials, fabricated components, and subassemblies meet GTI’s technical and regulatory standards. The Supplier Quality Engineer plays a hands-on role in driving root cause resolution, reducing supplier variability, and supporting new product introduction readiness.
Key Responsibilities
• Conduct supplier audits, capability assessments, and process evaluations to ensure conformance with engineering and quality standards
• Support supplier onboarding activities including First Article Inspections (FAI), PPAP submissions, and technical validation reviews
• Review supplier quality documentation including control plans, PFMEAs, process flow diagrams, and inspection reports
• Drive Supplier Corrective Action Requests (SCAR) using structured root cause methodologies (8D, 5 Why, Fishbone)
• Monitor supplier KPIs including defect rates, on-time delivery, cost of poor quality (COPQ), and corrective action cycle time
• Collaborate with Engineering to define inspection criteria, critical characteristics, and acceptance standards
• Support Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) activities for new product launches and engineering changes
• Investigate nonconforming materials and coordinate containment, corrective action, and disposition decisions
• Maintain supplier performance dashboards and quality reporting tools
• Partner with Procurement to support sourcing decisions based on quality risk and supplier capability
• Conduct dimensional inspections, weld reviews, and documentation audits as required
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to reduce scrap, rework, and supplier-related production disruptions
• Travel to supplier facilities for audits, technical reviews, and quality investigations as needed
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, or related technical field
• 4 years of experience in supplier quality, quality engineering, or manufacturing quality roles in an industrial environment
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001, APQP, PPAP, FMEA, and Control Plans
• Experience performing supplier audits and capability assessments
• Strong understanding of metal fabrication, machining, weld processes, or electro-mechanical assemblies
• Experience with root cause analysis tools and statistical process control concepts
• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, GD&T, and weld symbols
• Strong communication skills and ability to influence supplier performance improvements
• Proficiency in ERP systems and Excel-based data analysis
Preferred Qualifications
• CQE, CQA, or Six Sigma certification
• Experience in modular fabrication, energy systems, or defense manufacturing
• Familiarity with AWS D1.1 weld standards and inspection requirements
• Experience working with multi-site manufacturing operations